A lifeline for Christian carers

Every Thursday afternoon at 2.45pm I log on to the Carers Connected zoom, ready to listen and ready to pray.  I meet briefly with my co-host with a poem or song involving God’s promises or words from the Bible, before welcoming carers from all over the country.

Carers Connected was set up by the Christian charity, Embracing Age, during lockdown to bring carers together to share experiences, encourage one another and pray together, and it is the Christian content which makes it different to all other carers’ groups.  Although the pandemic is long gone, Carers Connected groups still gather due to its popularity and last year the charity advertised for a Co-ordinator.

Although the pandemic is long gone, Carers Connected groups still gather due to its popularity and last year the charity advertised for a Co-ordinator.

Over the past 14 years I have learned in all manner of ways about the sadness, the limitations, the implications and the devastation of Alzheimer’s as first my Dad and then my Mum have suffered from the cruelty of this disease. They now live just a 100 yds away and we have experienced the tales which can be told by countless other families in similar circumstances – changes in personality, devastating memory loss, a growing dependency, and even police involvement (‘the car has been stolen!’…but it was sold years ago….).

In the early days, as I digested the enormity of being responsible for parents with dementia

In the early days, as I digested the enormity of being responsible for parents with dementia (albeit shared with brothers some distance away) I struggled with frustration and desperation. Thankfully God is always with me in this and I turn to him continually for strength and grace and patience to keep going.

Being life-long Christians, I would look through a precious old illustrated Bible with Dad after he entered a care home (where he died in 2015), and I still take Mum in her wheelchair to church. But there are challenges – most services are too early in the day, she struggles to hear, and whilst with her it is hard to converse with anyone else.

In 2016 I started working from home, as this was better suited to caring for Mum, but my job ended with the pandemic. I wondered what next, until a friend showed me the role being advertised by Carers Connected.

God had a plan, and in a wonderful way these experiences, which I would not have chosen, are now of great benefit.  Listening, showing empathy and understanding the carers is an essential part of my role as Co-ordinator at Carers Connected and I feel equipped to do this because of what has gone before. “God comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”  2 Corinthians 1 v 4-6

Carers Connected has been variously described as ‘a lifesaver’, ‘the highlight of my week’, ‘a gently welcoming oasis’, ‘something just for me’.  It is for unpaid/informal carers looking after a loved one (a parent, partner or adult child).  We want to spread the word about our gatherings to carers all over the country, particularly to those who are unable to get to church services or attend small groups.

Do you know a Christian carer for whom this could make a difference?  Could you tell them about Carers Connected?  Very often carers are exhausted, stressed and weary with no reserves of time or energy to consider their own needs.  Please don’t assume they will hear about Carers Connected themselves, why not tell them about it today?

For info contact Embracing Age